“Adopting an FAI Property Is a Gesture That Brings Together Heart and Reason”

In primo piano

17 marzo 2026

Graziana Tura Canova has been a member of FAI since 1980 and, together with her husband, has chosen to adopt the Abbazia di San Fruttuoso. Adopting an FAI Property means helping to care for it, following its journey of conservation and enhancement, and feeling a sense of personal connection to it. It is a gesture that brings together heart and reason.

When and how did you first discover FAI? What struck you about it from the beginning?

I discovered FAI through my involvement with Italia Nostra. During some meetings I had the opportunity to meet the architect Renato Bazzoni and to appreciate his indomitable passion for Italy and its beauty.

At the time, FAI had only just been founded and had very few members (I hold membership card number 714). I remember one evening at dinner when Bazzoni encouraged us to recruit new members: “We must reach at least a thousand!”

It felt as though something important was beginning—something capable of combining passion with the protection of heritage.

You have been a member since 1980. What has it meant to accompany FAI over all these years?

It has been wonderful to see FAI grow. I witnessed the first projects, the great restoration works, the creation of the FAI Days, and the development of a network of volunteers.

Feeling part of all this has given me a deep sense of belonging and helped me understand how constant commitment can truly transform places and the lives of the people connected to them.

Is there a particular FAI Property that is especially dear to you? Why? What led you to become an adopter?

For my husband and me, one of the dearest FAI Properties is the Abbazia di San Fruttuoso in Camogli (Genoa).

When we visited it, we could immediately feel its history and spirit. In 2025 we decided to adopt it, for as long as we are able, in order to support its conservation and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy its beauty.

What does the act of adoption represent to you?

Adopting a FAI Property is an act of love and responsibility. It is a tangible way to make a difference, to follow the conservation of a place and to feel a personal connection to it.

It is a gesture that brings together heart and reason.

I have also volunteered, which I greatly enjoyed, but today—since I am no longer young—I contribute through adoption. For me, it remains the most meaningful way to support FAI.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about supporting FAI today?

I would encourage them to do so with enthusiasm. Visit the extraordinary places of Italy, from villas and abbeys to historic gardens and restored villages.